West Boca hoops league crowns spring champions

Ali Berkowitz showcased her basketball skills at the perfect time — during the West Boca Basketball League's Girls 11-12 Division championship game.

The seventh-grader at Loggers Run Middle School struck for 14 points to lead her Win By 1 team to a 31-17 victory over the Hustle. With the win, she and her teammates clinched an undefeated 12-0 season.

Berkowitz, 11, was named the game's Most Valuable Player. She also showed leadership by sharing the ball and keeping everybody on the team involved and focused on their objectives throughout the season.

"I like dribbling the basketball even more than shooting," Berkowitz said.

Gina Mazza and Makayla Magieninicki added six points apiece for Win By 1, while Lauren Glasser and Lee Tirosh each tallied eight points for the Hustle.

In one of the weekend's more exciting games, the Gators outlasted the Buckeyes, 30-29, in four overtimes to win the Boys 9 Division crown.

Cole Whipple and Brandon Sereda made critical free throws for the Gators at the end of regulation and the second overtime to extend the game. Eitan Heller made a 40-foot shot for the Buckeyes at the end of the third overtime to send the game to a fourth extra session. The Gators successfully converted their free throws to decide the outcome.

Whipple came through with nine points, while Dylan Rogers and Joey Griseta contributed five and four points, respectively, for the Gators. Gyterson Lusaint paced the Buckeyes with eight points, while Grant Dodrill and Zion Dascal each netted five points.

Jeff Gordon, the league's executive director, has been on the board for 13 years, which represents 26 seasons since play takes place twice a year. There were 1,060 players ages 5-18 in the spring league this year.

"There were 14 different age groups," Gordon said. "I think there is a lot of excitement about basketball, probably because the local professional team has been so successful, and there is a lot of energy for basketball. We grew by about 100 kids this season, and about 60 percent play in both the fall and the spring seasons."

The league will have a camp on June 9 and 16 at West Boca High School. For more information, email ckdl18@aol.com or call Carolyn Kramer at 561-929-1671.